I figure it's about time to post this, as I'm hoping to finish in the next couple months. It has been a long long journey getting this done. Many life-altering occurrences, tools acquired, skills learned, mistakes made, many favors granted, much bartering took place, and much time used up and money has left my wallet.
2005 The beginning:
I traded my old '63 Galaxie for a "63 Pre-unit", which ended up being a Duplex '62 Pre-unit with a 57 gearbox, unit front end, and an oddball 4" stretch hardtail. It was leaking oil from every orifice. Forward controls, drag pipes, a mediocre cobra seat with a Honda rear fender, and some other things that didn't fit what I was going for.
Digging deeper, I found out this was an old Hack-A-Saw chop. In an even earlier life it looked like this:
Hey sexy
I did things here and there for a few years but wasn't able to concentrate on it. About 4 years ago things started accelerating.
Re: Vor's 7 Year (B)itch aka Legend of the Purple Pre-Unit
And now on to finish and assembly
I'm using black appliance enamel. I will probably doa year long shakedown run, then invest in a nice paint job.
To be chromed (except oil tank)
Thanks to Craig at Front St Cycle for helping
Back from chrome
Fork covers on
Modified seal cups
A few hours of polishing
Motor mockup
Polished the hub (very messed up) and a new steel rim
And where I'm at, custom bars by Front St Cycle. So many thanks to many people:
Craig @ Front St Cycle, Wes @ Four Aces, Pops Cook, Paul Gion, Greg Poirier, Bultaco RJ, Jason @ SF Vintage Cycle, Rabers, Chico, Caffeine, Troop and Mittens, Mr. Young, and my dad busting out some things before his factory closed down, and my very very patient wife.
I remember that Galaxie, it was one of the few four doors to stick in my memory. I had my '63 fastback at the same time.
Bike looks good, real fuckin good. It was an 'almost got it right' when you started, but it looks like a home run with what you've done to it. That motor is beautiful- love the attention to detail with the carbs and the like.
Great job vorhese.Really coming along fine. What size carbs came with the bike?
How long has it been that you polished the carb parts? And are they still shiny?
Cool man! It's good to see the whole deal in one place - I always start out to read through your blog then get side tracked part way through. We managed to pick the same tail with the same drop and stretch figures too! I had to laugh when I saw the first picture come up, 'cause the first thing I thought of was "the purple pimp of pain". What a rediculous name! Glad to see your getting it straightened out!
I'm loving all the attention to detail- one thing though, don't polish intake ports, polish exhaust ports. You want a roughish surface on the intake to keep the gas and air mixed up.
@radar
I've heard two schools of thought, the don't polish crowd, and the polish crowd. Groups of old timers and internet experts on both sides. I'm taking a bet it will be fine, the carb should do it's job and atomize everything and no gunky buildup. But if it doesn't... I'll go grab some 220 sand paper and report my findings.
@cali
They were old 930's. The polish is only a few weeks old, I'm sure over time it will lose its luster. I've been making a lot of bolts too, polishing those, and smoothing out the bolt markings on the end, polishing. Lots of little detail things no one will notice.
@spent
I miss her. Last I know she's somewhere in Tennessee. I got another '63 a few years ago and it never was the same.
The woodruff slot on my norton clagged out a while back. The fix was makin a copper KEY and mig weld the damage. Remove copper and file back into shape. Worked bloody great, motor still in bike, rode home.
Man, what a super nice thread. You´re doing this for real. Hats off.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Jockey Journal Forum
994.9K posts
82.4K members
Since 2005
A forum community dedicated to Jockey motorcycle owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, restorations, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!